List of silver coins of the German Empire

The federal states of the German Empire were allowed to issue their own silver coins in denominations of 2 and 5 marks from 1873. The Coinage Act of 9 July 1873 regulated how the coins were to be designed: On the obverse or image side only the state sovereign or the coat of arms of the free cities of Hamburg, Bremen or Lübeck was to be depicted, and the coin had to have a pearl circle. On the reverse or denomination side only the Imperial Eagle to a certain design was allowed. In addition, further silver coins were issued in denominations of 20 pfennigs, 50 pfennigs and 1 Mark. However, these were not stamped with a portrait of a ruler, since they were not issued by individual states.[1]

5-Mark coin of William II

In 1908, 3 Mark coins were minted for the first time, for which the same provisions applied as for the 2 and 5 Mark coins.[1]

The provisions of 1873 were relaxed by the Coinage Act of 1 June 1909; other motifs could now also be depicted on commemorative coins, and the pearl circle was no longer mandatory; the value side was also allowed to have a different design.[1]

Some coins were produced in very high numbers, such as the circulation and commemorative coins of the Kingdom of Prussia. In smaller territories with a correspondingly small population, on the other hand, there were significantly lower numbers especially of commemorative coins. Due to the First World War, on the other hand, only 100 examples were minted of the Saxon 3 Mark commemorative coin marking the 400th anniversary in 1917 and issues commemorating state anniversaries in Hesse (1917) and Bavaria (1918) were only minted in low numbers.[1]

The coins were valid throughout the Empire, so that coins from Baden could also be used in Prussia, for example.[1]

Mints

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The silver coins of the Empire were minted at nine different mints:[1]

Mint symbol Place Period
A Berlin from 1872
B Hanover 1872–1878
C Frankfurt 1872–1879
D Munich from 1872
E Dresden 1872–1887
Muldenhütten 1887–1953
F Stuttgart from 1872
G Karlsruhe from 1872
H Darmstadt 1872–1882
J Hamburg from 1875

Denominations up to 1 Mark

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The smaller silver coins of the German Empire were issued from 1873 at nominal values of 20 Pfennig and 1 Mark. 50 Pfennig coins were struck by the mints from 1875. As early as 1877 the 20 Pfennig silver coins were replaced by those made of cupro-nickel. From 1891 the design changed slightly as it did also on the higher denominations: now the Imperial Eagle depicted a small coat of arms instead of the larger coat of arms used up to that point. After 1903 no more coins with the nominal value 50 Pfennig were struck; instead these coins bore the nominal value of ½ Mark.[1]

Denominations Obverse Reverse Minting period Weight Diameter
of the coin
Edge
design
20 Pfennig     1873–1877 1.111 g 16.0 mm 110 notches
50 Pfennig     1875–1877 2.778 g 20.0 mm 126 notches
50 Pfennig 1877–1878 2.778 g 20.0 mm 126 notches
50 Pfennig 1896
1898
1900–1903
2.778 g 20.0 mm 126 notches
½ Mark     1905–1919 2.778 g 20.0 mm 90 notches
1 Mark     1873–1883
1885–1887
5.556 g 24.0 mm 140 notches
1 Mark     1891–1894
1896
1898–1916
5.556 g 24.0 mm 140 notches

They were produced in all the mints, although several did not produce all the denominations in every year.

These coins, like the 2, 3 and 5 Mark pieces, were made from 900/1000 silver.[1]

Denominations from 2 Mark

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Size and weight

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All coins were made of 900/1000 silver.

The 2 Mark coins are 11.111 grams in weight and have a diameter of 28 mm.

The 3 Mark coins are 16.667 grams in weight and have a diameter of 33 mm.

The 5 Mark coins are 27.778 grams in weight and have a diameter of 38 mm.

In general a Mark represented 5 grams of silver. A 5 Mark silver coin thus contained 25 g silver; by contrast there were also 5 Mark gold coins with a content of 1.79 g of gold.

Reverse side images

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The Imperial Eagle is depicted on the reverse of the silver coins. There are two variants: the eagle with a large coat of arms ("little eagle") and the eagle with a small coat of arms ("big eagle"). The former was used until 1889, the latter from 1891. No silver coins were minted in between those dates.[1]

The inscription reads:

GERMAN EMPIRE --year--
--Value--

Exceptions

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The 1909 coinage allowed the value side to be changed as well:[1]

  • On the reverse of the coins "Centenary of the Grand Duchy 1915" (Mecklenburg-Schwerin) and "Centenary of the accession of the County of Mansfeld" (Prussia) another form of imperial eagle can be seen, the so-called "war eagle".
  • The Prussian 3 Mark coins "Centenary of the University of Berlin" and "Centenary of the University of Breslau" also bear other forms of imperial eagle.
  • A variation of the imperial eagle (Art Nouveau eagle) is embossed on the reverse of the “Centenary of the Grand Duchy of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach” coin.
  • The reverse of the coin "Centenary of the Wars of Liberation against France" features an eagle clutching a snake (a symbol of Napoleonic foreign rule).

Edge

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The edge of the 2 Mark coin is milled with 140 notches, while the perimeter of the 3 and 5 Mark coins are stamped with the inscription GOTT with UNS ("God with Us"). Between the words are two arabesques with an iron cross between them.[1]

List

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The following is a table of the silver coins issued by the German Empire.[1]

Legend:

Face Value: The face value of a coin is the denomination stated on the coin and at which the coins were most often issued.

Year of Issue: The year of issue is the year in which a particular coin was minted and issued.

Circulation/commemorative coin: A circulation coin is one without a specified reason for issue. It depicts only the portrait of the prince or the coat of arms of the city. In addition, it is usually issued over several years. A commemorative coin is one issued for a specific occasion, such as a state anniversary or the ruler's birthday. These coins were each only produced in one year. However, like the circulation coins, they were official means of payment.

Occasion/Motif: The occasion of a commemorative coin or the motif of a circulation coin is given here.

Mint: The coins were mostly only produced by one mint (see above) listed here.

Minted condition:

  • MS: These coins were minted in the normal way. However, the majority are no longer in "mint uncirculated" condition, as they have worn out over time.
  • PF: These coins were minted in a special way, separately from the others. They were minted from polished planchets using specially polished dies. This causes the bumps on the coin to appear dull while the surface is reflective. These coins are usually more expensive than the normal minted coins, as they were also minted in smaller numbers in most cases. If the word available is in the "PF" column, it means that the number of PF coins is not known.
Duchy of Anhalt

Capital: Dessau; area: 2,299 km2

Image Denominations Year(s) of issue Circulation/Commemorative coin
Occasion/motif
Location
of mint
Number minted
MS PF
  2 Mark 1876 Circulation coin
Frederick I
A 200,000
  2 Mark 1896 Commemorative coin
25th anniversary of the reign of Frederick I
A 50,000  available
5 Mark 1896 Commemorative coin
25th anniversary of the reign of Frederick I
A 10,000 available
  2 Mark 1904 Commemorative coin
Inauguration of the reign of Frederick II
A 50,000 150
  3 Mark 1909
1911
Circulation coin
Frederick II
A 100,000
100,000
100
  3 Mark 1914 Commemorative coin
Silver wedding of Frederick II and Marie
A 200,000 1,000
5 Mark 1914 Commemorative coin
Silver wedding of Frederick II and Marie
A 30,000 1,000
Grand Duchy of Baden

Capital: Karlsruhe; area: 15,069 km2

Image Denominations Year(s) of issue Circulation/Commemorative coin
Occasion/motif
Location
of mint
Number minted
MS PF
  2 Mark 1876
1877
1880
1883
1888
Circulation coin
Frederick I
G 1,739,038
763,927
74,000
45,493
75,279
available
5 Mark 1874–1876
1888
Circulation coin
Frederick I
G 786,994
30,111
available
2 Mark 1892
1894
1896
1898–1902
Circulation coin
Frederick I
G 106,750
106,750
213,520
1,093,412
available
5 Mark 1891
1893–1895
1898–1902
Circulation coin
Frederick I
G 42,700
177,033
491,605
available
  2 Mark 1902 Commemorative coin
50th anniversary of the reign of Frederick I
G 375,018
5 Mark 1902 Commemorative coin
50th anniversary of the reign of Frederick I
G 50,024
  2 Mark 1902–1907 Circulation coin
Frederick I
G 3,444,401 available
5 Mark 1902–1904
1907
Circulation coin
Frederick I
G 805,119
243,821
available
  2 Mark 1906 Commemorative coin
Golden wedding of Frederick I and Louise
G 350,000
5 Mark 1906 Commemorative coin
Golden wedding of Frederick I and Louise
G 60,000
  2 Mark 1907 Commemorative coin
Death of Frederick I
G 350,002 available
5 Mark 1907 Commemorative coin
Death of Frederick I
G 60,000 available
  2 Mark 1911
1913
Circulation coin
Frederick II
G 77,000
289,690
available
3 Mark 1908–1915 Circulation coin
Frederick II
G 3,464,251 available
5 Mark 1908
1913
Circulation coin
Frederick II
G 281,568
244,000
available
Kingdom of Bavaria

Capital: Munich; area: 75,865 km2

Image Denominations Year(s) of issue Circulation/Commemorative coin
Occasion/motif
Location
of mint
Number minted
MS PF
  2 Mark 1876
1877
1880
1883
Circulation coin
Louis II
D 5,370,139
1,511,500
168,974
104,217
available
5 Mark 1874–1876 Circulation coin
Louis II
D 1,871,266 available
  2 Mark 1888 Circulation coin
Otto
D 172,368
5 Mark 1888 Circulation coin
Otto
D 68,947
2 Mark 1891
1893
1896
1898–1908
1912–1913
Circulation coin
Otto
D 246,050
246,050
492,131
12,733,516
311,350
available
5 Mark 1891
1893–1896
1898–1908
1913
Circulation coin
Otto
D 98,420
407,741
4,420,268
420,000
available
3 Mark 1908–1913 Circulation coin
Otto
D 6,592,442 available
  2 Mark 1911 Commemorative coin
90th birthday and 25th anniversary of the reign of
Prince Regent Luitpold
D 640,000 available
3 Mark 1911 Commemorative coin
90th birthday and 25th anniversary of the reign of
Prince Regent Luitpold
D 639,721 available
5 Mark 1911 Commemorative coin
90th birthday and 25th anniversary of the reign of
Prince Regent Luitpold
D 160,000 available
  2 Mark 1914 Circulation coin
Louis III
D 573,533 available
3 Mark 1914 Circulation coin
Louis III
D 717,460 available
5 Mark 1914 Circulation coin
Louis III
D 142,400 available
3 Mark 1918 Commemorative coin
Golden wedding of Louis III and Maria Theresa
D 130 5
Duchy of Brunswick

Capital: Brunswick; area: 3,672 km2

Image Denominations Year(s) of issue Circulation/Commemorative coin
Occasion/motif
Location
of mint
Number minted
MS PF
3 Mark 1915 Commemorative coin
Inauguration of the reign of Ernest Augustus;
Marriage to Victoria Louise (without Lüneburg in the title)
A few ca. 1,700
5 Mark 1915 Commemorative coin
Inauguration of the reign of Ernest Augustus;
Marriage to Victoria Louise (without Lüneburg in the title)
A few ca. 1,400
  3 Mark 1915 Commemorative coin
Inauguration of the reign of Ernest Augustus;
Marriage to Victoria Louise
A 31,634
5 Mark 1915 Commemorative coin
Inauguration of the reign of Ernest Augustus;
Mariage to Victoria Louise
A 8,600 available
Free Hanseatic City of Bremen

Capital: Bremen; area: 256 km2

Image Denominations Year(s) of issue Circulation/Commemorative coin
Occasion/motif
Location
of mint
Number minted
MS PF
  2 Mark 1904 Circulation coin
Coat of arms of the Free Hanseatic City of Bremen
J 100,000 200
  5 Mark 1906 Circulation coin
Coat of arms of the Free Hanseatic City of Bremen
J 40,846 600
Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg

Capital: Hamburg; area: 415 km2

Image Denominations Year(s) of issue Circulation/Commemorative coin
Occasion/motif
Location
of mint
Number minted
MS PF
  2 Mark 1876–1878
1880
1883
1888
Circulation coin
Coat of arms of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg
J 4,811,142
98,936
60,446
99,820
available
5 Mark 1875–1876
1888
Circulation coin
Coat of arms of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg
J 1,215,661
40,363
available
2 Mark 1892–1893
1896
1898–1908
1911–1914
Circulation coin
Coat of arms of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg
J 286,775
286,434
7,329,908
715,833
available
3 Mark 1908–1914 Circulation coin
Coat of arms of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg
J 4,654,966 available
5 Mark 1891
1893–1896
1898–1908
1913
Circulation coin
Coat of arms of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg
J 59,409
234,400
2,585,475
326,800
available
Grand Duchy of Hesse

Capital: Darmstadt; area: 7,688 km2

Image Denominations Year(s) of issue Circulation/Commemorative coin
Occasion/motif
Location
of mint
Number minted
MS PF
  2 Mark 1876–1877 Circulation coin
Louis III
H 540,108 available
5 Mark 1875–1876 Circulation coin
Louis III
H 438,485 available
  2 Mark 1888 Circulation coin
Louis IV
A 22,350 500
5 Mark 1888 Circulation coin
Louis IV
A 8,940 400
2 Mark 1891 Circulation coin
Louis IV
A 62,650 available
5 Mark 1891 Circulation coin
Louis IV
A 25,060 available
  2 Mark 1895–1896
1898–1900
Circulation coin
Ernest Louis
A 62,650
96,600
200
688
5 Mark 1895
1898–1900
Circulation coin
Ernest Louis
A 39,380
73,280
200
566
  2 Mark 1904 Commemorative coin
400th birthday Philip the Magnanimous
A 100,000 2,250
5 Mark 1904 Commemorative coin
400th birthday Philip the Magnanimous
A 40,000 700
  3 Mark 1910 Circulation coin
Ernest Louis
A 200,000 500
3 Mark 1917 Commemorative coin
25th anniversary of the reign of Ernest Louis
A few ca. 1,330
Principality of Lippe

Capital: Detmold; area: 1,215 km2

Image Denominations Year(s) of issue Circulation/Commemorative coin
Occasion/motif
Location
of mint
Number minted
MS PF
  2 Mark 1906 Circulation coin
Leopold IV
A 20,000 1,100
3 Mark 1913 Circulation coin
Leopold IV
A 15,000 100
Free City of Lübeck

Capital: Lübeck; area: 298 km2

Image Denominations Year(s) of issue Circulation/Commemorative coin
Occasion/motif
Location
of mint
Number minted
MS PF
  2 Mark 1901 Circulation coin
Coat of arms of the Free and Hanseatic City of Lübeck
A 25,000 250
  2 Mark 1904–1907
1911–1912
Circulation coin
Coat of arms of the Free and Hanseatic City of Lübeck
A 100,000
50,000
578
 
3 Mark 1908–1914 Circulation coin
Coat of arms of the Free and Hanseatic City of Lübeck
A 174,002 available
5 Mark 1904
1907–1908
1913
Circulation coin
Coat of arms of the Free and Hanseatic City of Lübeck
A 10,000
20,000
6,000
200
available
 
Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg-Schwerin

Capital: Schwerin; area: 13,127 km2

Image Denominations Year(s) of issue Circulation/Commemorative coin
Occasion/motif
Location
of mint
Number minted
MS PF
2 Mark 1876 Circulation coin
Frederick Francis II
A 300,000
2 Mark 1901 Commemorative coin
Inauguration of the reign of Frederick Francis IV on coming of age
A 50,000 1,000
  2 Mark 1904 Commemorative coin
Wedding of Frederick Francis IV and Alexandra
A 100,000 6,000
5 Mark 1904 Commemorative coin
Wedding of Frederick Francis IV and Alexandra
A 40,000 2,500
  3 Mark 1915 Commemorative coin
Centenary of the Grand Duchy
A 33,334 available
5 Mark 1915 Commemorative coin
Centenary of the Grand Duchy
A 10,000 available
Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg-Strelitz

Capital: Neustrelitz; area: 2,929 km2

Image Denominations Year(s) of issue Circulation/Commemorative coin
Occasion/motif
Location
of mint
Number minted
MS PF
2 Mark 1877 Circulation coin
Frederick William
A 100,000 available
  2 Mark 1905 Circulation coin
Adolphus Frederick V
A 10,000 2,500
3 Mark 1913 Circulation coin
Adolphus Frederick V
A 7,000 available
Grand Duchy of Oldenburg

Capital: Oldenburg; area: 6,424 km2

Image Denominations Year(s) of issue Circulation/Commemorative coin
Occasion/motif
Location
of mint
Number minted
MS PF
  2 Mark 1891 Circulation coin
Nicolas Frederick Peter
A 100,000 available
  2 Mark 1900–1901 Circulation coin
Frederick Augustus
A 175,000 260
5 Mark 1900–1901 Circulation coin
Frederick Augustus
A 30,000 170
Kingdom of Prussia

Capital: Berlin; area: 348,780 km2

Image Denominations Year(s) of issue Circulation/Commemorative coin
Occasion/motif
Location
of mint(n)
Number minted
MS PF
  2 Mark 1876–1877
1879–1880
1883–1884
Circulation coin
William I
A, B, C
A
A
28,827,953
693,975
304,640
available
5 Mark 1874–1876 Circulation coin
William I
A, B, C 7,562,000 available
  2 Mark 1888 Circulation coin
Frederick III
A 500,000 available
5 Mark 1888 Circulation coin
Frederick III
A 200,000 available
  2 Mark 1888 Circulation coin
William II
A 140,512 available
5 Mark 1888 Circulation coin
William II
A 56,204 available
2 Mark 1891–1893
1896
1898–1908
1911–1912
Circulation coin
William II
A 1,674,000
1,771,853
45,395,392
1,914,288
available
3 Mark 1908–1912 Circulation coin
William II
A 22,660,469 available
5 Mark 1891–1896
1898–1904
1906–1908
Circulation coin
William II
A 1,886,723
11,273,459
5,363,880
available
  2 Mark 1901 Commemorative coin
200th anniversary of the Kingdom of Prussia
A 2,600,000 available
5 Mark 1901 Commemorative coin
200th anniversary of the Kingdom of Prussia
A 460,000 available
  3 Mark 1910 Commemorative coin
Centenary of the University of Berlin
A 200,000 2,000
  3 Mark 1911 Commemorative coin
Centenary of the University of Breslau
A 400,000 available
  2 Mark 1913 Commemorative coin
Centenary of the Wars of Liberation against France
A 1,500,000 available
3 Mark 1913 Commemorative coin
Centenary of the Wars of Liberation against France
A 2,000,000 available
  2 Mark 1913 Commemorative coin
25th anniversary of the reign of William II
A 1,500,000 5,000
3 Mark 1913 Commemorative coin
25th anniversary of the reign of William II
A 2,000,000 6,000
  3 Mark 1914 Commemorative coin
25th anniversary of the reign of William II (without laurel branch and date)
A 2,564,101 available
5 Mark 1913–1914 Commemorative coin
25th anniversary of the reign of William II (without laurel branch and date)
A 3,548,891 available
  3 Mark 1915 Commemorative coin
Centenary of the accession of the County of Mansfeld to the Prussia
A 30,000 550
Principality of Reuss Elder Line

Capital: Greiz; area: 316 km2

Image Denominations Year(s) of issue Circulation/Commemorative coin
Occasion/motif
Location
of mint
Number minted
MS PF
2 Mark 1877 Circulation coin
Henry XXII
B 20,000 available
2 Mark 1892 Circulation coin
Henry XXII
A 10,000 available
  2 Mark 1899
1901
Circulation coin
Henry XXII
A 10,000
10,000
120
 
  3 Mark 1909 Circulation coin
Henry XXIV
A 10,000 400
Principality of Reuss Younger Line

Capital: Gera; area: 827 km2

Image Denominations Year(s) of issue Circulation/Commemorative coin
Occasion/motif
Location
of mint
Number minted
MS PF
2 Mark 1884 Circulation coin
Henry XIV
A 100,000 available
Kingdom of Saxony

Capital: Dresden; area: 14,995 km2

Image Denominations Year(s) of issue Circulation/Commemorative coin
Occasion/motif
Location
of mint
Number minted
MS PF
  2 Mark 1876–1877
1879–1880
1883
1888
Circulation coin
Albert
E 2,409,431
93,619
55,700
90,995
5 Mark 1875–1876
1889
Circulation coin
Albert
E 1,129,109
36,397
2 Mark 1891
1893
1895–1896
1898–1902
Circulation coin
Albert
E 130,375
130,375
260,802
1,874,049
available
5 Mark 1891
1893–1895
1898–1902
Circulation coin
Albert
E 52,150
216,249
715,964
available
  2 Mark 1902 Commemorative coin
Death of Albert
E 167,625 250
5 Mark 1902 Commemorative coin
Death of Albert
E 100,000 250
  2 Mark 1903–1904 Circulation coin
George
E 2,011,984 >50
5 Mark 1903–1904 Circulation coin
George
E 826,941 50
  2 Mark 1904 Commemorative coin
Death of George
E 150,000 55
5 Mark 1904 Commemorative coin
Death of George
E 37,200 70
  2 Mark 1905–1908
1911–1912
1914
Circulation coin
Frederick Augustus III
E 2,570,909
353,875
298,000
available
3 Mark 1908–1913 Circulation coin
Frederick Augustus III
E 3,485,188 available
5 Mark 1907–1908
1914
Circulation coin
Frederick Augustus III
E 715,344
298,000
available
  2 Mark 1909 Commemorative coin
500th anniversary of the University of Leipzig
E 125,000 300
5 Mark 1909 Commemorative coin
500th anniversary of the University of Leipzig
E 50,000 300
  3 Mark 1913 Commemorative coin
Centenary of the Battle of Leipzig
E 999,999 17,000
  3 Mark 1917 Commemorative coin
Commemorative coin on the 400th anniversary of the Reformation in 1917
E 100
Duchy of Saxe-Altenburg

Capital: Altenburg; area: 1,324 km2

Image Denominations Year(s) of issue Circulation/Commemorative coin
Occasion/motif
Location
of mint
Number minted
MS PF
  2 Mark 1901 Commemorative coin
75th birthday of Ernest I
A 50,000 500
5 Mark 1901 Commemorative coin
75th birthday of Ernest I
A 20,000 500
  5 Mark 1903 Commemorative coin
50th anniversary of the reign of Ernest I
A 20,000 300
Duchies of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha

Capitals: Gotha and Coburg; area: 1,956 km2

Image Denominations Year(s) of issue Circulation/Commemorative coin
Occasion/motif
Location
of mint
Number minted
MS PF
2 Mark 1895 Circulation coin
Alfred
A 15,000 available
5 Mark 1895 Circulation coin
Alfred
A 4,000
  2 Mark 1905
1911
Circulation coin
Charles Edward
A 10,000
 
2,000
100
5 Mark 1907 Circulation coin
Charles Edward
A 10,000
Duchy of Saxe-Meiningen

Capital: Meiningen; area: 2,468 km2

Image Denominations Year(s) of issue Circulation/Commemorative coin
Occasion/motif
Location
of mint
Number minted
MS PF
  2 Mark 1901 Commemorative coin
75th birthday of George II
D 20,000
5 Mark 1901 Commemorative coin
75th birthday of George II
D 20,000
  2 Mark 1902
1913
Circulation coin
George II
D 20,000
5000
available
3 Mark 1908
1913
Circulation coin
George II
D 35,000
20,000
available
5 Mark 1902
1908
Circulation coin
George II
D 20,000
60,000
  2 Mark 1915 Commemorative coin
Death of George II
D 30,000 available
3 Mark 1915 Commemorative coin
Death of George II
D 30,000 available
Grand Duchy of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach

Capital: Weimar; area: 3,595 km2

Image Denominations Year(s) of issue Circulation/Commemorative coin
Occasion/motif
Location
of mint
Number minted
MS PF
  2 Mark 1892 Commemorative coin
Golden wedding of Charles Alexander and Sophie
A 50,000 available
2 Mark 1898 Commemorative coin
80th birthday of Charles Alexander
A 100,000 available
2 Mark 1901 Commemorative coin
Inauguration of the reign of William Ernest
A 100,000 available
  2 Mark 1903 Commemorative coin
Marriage of William Ernest and Caroline
A 40,000 1,000
5 Mark 1903 Commemorative coin
Marriage of William Ernest and Caroline
A 24,000 1,000
  2 Mark 1908 Commemorative coin
350th anniversary of the University of Jena
A 50,000
5 Mark 1908 Commemorative coin
350th anniversary of the University of Jena
A 40,000
  3 Mark 1910 Commemorative coin
Marriage of William Ernest and Feodora
A 133,000 available
  3 Mark 1915 Commemorative coin
Centenary of the Grand Duchy of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach
A 50,000 200
Principality of Schaumburg-Lippe

Capital: Bückeburg; area: 340 km2

Image Denominations Year(s) of issue Circulation/Commemorative coin
Occasion/motif
Location
of mint
Number minted
MS PF
2 Mark 1898
1904
Circulation coin
George
A 5,000
5,000
162
200
5 Mark 1898
1904
Circulation coin
George
A 3,000
3,000
90
200
  3 Mark 1911 Commemorative coin
Death of George
A 50,000 available
Principality of Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt

Capital: Rudolstadt; area: 941 km2

Image Denominations Year(s) of issue Circulation/Commemorative coin
Occasion/motif
Location
of mint
Number minted
MS PF
  2 Mark 1898 Circulation coin
Günther Victor
A 100,000 375
Principality of Schwarzburg-Sondershausen

Capital: Sondershausen; area: 862 km2

Image Denominations Year(s) of issue Circulation/Commemorative coin
Occasion/motif
Location
of mint
Number minted
MS PF
2 Mark 1896 Circulation coin
Charles Günther
A 50,000 190
  2 Mark 1905 Commemorative coin
25th anniversary of the reign Charles Günther
A 75,000 10,000
  3 Mark 1909 Commemorative coin
Death of Charles Günther
A 70,000 >100
Principalities of Waldeck and Pyrmont

Capitals: Arolsen and Pyrmont; area: 1,121 km2

Image Denominations Year(s) of issue Circulation/Commemorative coin
Occasion/motif
Location
of mint
Number minted
MS PF
5 Mark 1903 Circulation coin
Frederick
A 2,000 300
Kingdom of Württemberg

Capital: Stuttgart; area: 19,507 km2

Image Denominations Year(s) of issue Circulation/Commemorative coin
Occasion/motif
Location
of mint
Number minted
MS PF
2 Mark 1876–1877
1880
1883
1888
Circulation coin
Charles
F 2,661,777
128,943
73,872
123,140
available
  5 Mark 1874–1876
1888
Circulation coin
Charles
F 1,326,926
49,258
available
  2 Mark 1892–1893
1896
1898–1908
1912–1914
Circulation coin
William II
F 351,055
351,031
9,115,537
794,753
available
3 Mark 1908–1914 Circulation coin
William II
F 5,318,469
5 Mark 1892–1895
1898–1908
1913
Circulation coin
William II
F 361,134
3,237,225
401,200
available
  3 Mark 1911 Commemorative coin
Silver wedding of William II and Charlotte
F 500,000 available
3 Mark 1916 Commemorative coin
25th anniversary of the reign William II
F 1,000

Features

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Embossing errors/deviations

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The following embossing variations are known:[1]

  • A stamping error on some coins is the incorrect marginal writing OTT with UNS, e.g. on some 3 Mark circulation coins in Anhalt from 1909 and some 5 Mark coins from Prussia with the image of William II.
    • The 5 Mark coin of Württemberg from 1908 has the marginal writing OTT MI UNS on some coins.
  • The word BADEN is written on some 5 Mark coins from Baden from 1875-1891 without a slash inside the A, i.e.: BΛDEN.
  • In the case of the Baden 5 Mark circulation coins from 1913, it happens that the D in BADEN is open at the top.
  • "Ottos Locken" on Bavaria's 5 and 2 mark coins from 1888 to 1913
    • Open/closed forelock: Otto's originally closed forelock became an open forelock due to the polishing of the die.
    • Curls above the ear: Due to stamping differences, there are either multiple curls or one large curl above the ear.
  • 2 and 5 Mark Saxe-Meiningen: The 2 and 5 Mark coins of Saxe-Meiningen have two different variants:
    • The Duke's beard is approximately 1.5mm from the bead circle.
    • The beard touches the beading.

Other features

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  • Bremen originally wanted to mint a 3 Mark coin in 1914. However, the outbreak of the First World War prevented this.
  • Mecklenburg-Schwerin had planned to mint 2 and 5 mark coins in 1919 for the 500th anniversary of the University of Rostock.

In Prussia, in 1915, a commemorative mint was planned for Bismarck's 100th birthday.

The fact that, due to high demand, the number of coins would have exceeded 100 million and thus been higher than the number for the Wars of Liberation coin or 25th anniversary of William II's reign (about 9 million), showed Bismarck's greater popularity over the Emperor, which is why the plan was dropped.[1]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Jaeger & Kahnt (2009)

Literature

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Basis of the article

  • Jaeger, K. and H. Kahnt (2009). Die deutschen Münzen seit 1871. 21st edn., Regenstauf: Gietl, ISBN 978-3-86646-521-3.

Other sources

  • MICHEL: Münzen-Katalog Deutschland 2009. Schwaneberger, Unterschleißheim 2009, ISBN 978-3-87858-589-3.
  • P. Arnold, H. Küthmann, D. Steinhilber, D. Faßbender: Großer Deutscher Münzkatalog von 1800 bis heute. Gietl, Regenstauf 2008, ISBN 978-3-86646-035-5.
  • H. Caspar: Der König rief, and alle, alle kamen: Ein Streifzug durch die Münzgeschichte des deutschen Kaiserreichs 1871 bis 1918. money trend Verlag, Wien 2009, ISBN 978-3-9502268-7-4.
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